'It's going to be a war:' Greenfield prepares to square off with United Faith Christian in NCISAA 1-A title game
Posted on February 25, 2022
Christian.
By Andrew Schnittker
aschnittker@wilsontimes.com | 252-265-7807 | Twitter: @aschnitt53
Throughout the 2021-22 season, the Greenfield School boys basketball team has kept its sights set on one goal: the NCISAA 1-A State Championship.
The Knights had other goals they accomplished too, of course, such as winning the 1-A/2-A Coastal Plain Independents Conference. But the biggest objective was always getting back to the state title game. That’s a goal that was realized earlier this week, as, with a 98-64 win over Crossroads Christian in the semis Tuesday, the Knights punched their ticket to the championship game, in which they’ll face United Faith Christian at Mount Olive Saturday.
“We’re really excited,” said Greenfield head coach Rob Salter. “This has been a process. We lost out last year. I remember Aaron Murphy was like ‘We’re not having this feeling again next year.’ They’ve been focused. This has been their goal. From what we did this summer to now, they’ve been a focused group. We’re glad to have a chance to play for a state championship.”
Greenfield is back in the state championship game for the first time since 2019, which was also its last championship win. It’s the Knights’ 10th all-time appearance in the title game, and they’ll seek their sixth straight title.
The team fell short of this goal last season, falling 68-53 to Victory Christian Center in the semis. That’s been a driving force for the Knights throughout the year.
“The boys turned it into motivation,” Salter said. “And we got to do a lot of stuff in the spring and summer that we couldn’t do during the COVID year, getting together, working out, playing, going to team camp, doing a lot of stuff. So, I mean, that made this group really tight. But they definitely used that as motivation going into the year.”
It’s already been a wildly successful year for the Knights. Greenfield comes into the championship game at 27-5, and the team went 7-0 in Coastal Plains Independents play, capturing both the regular season and conference tournament championships.
The Knights have rode a balanced approach to the title game, as the team is capable of scoring in the paint, getting out in transition and knocking down 3s. Senior Aaron Murphy has led the way all year, but the team has a number of key contributors, including Hampton Evans, Matt Kriby, Kyshon Atkinson and more.
“I think we’re a team,” Salter said. “We play really good basketball, we’re really unselfish. I think we can be really good defensively at times. One thing I like is it’s really coachable. These guys want to be coached. They’re sponges, and they take it when you get on them and they want to get better. So I think that’s one thing, we’re pretty complete. The different weapons throughout the time, people stepping up when we needed them to, has helped us this far.”
As the No. 1 seed Knights prepare to take on the No. 2 seed Falcons, they’re sticking with a mantra that’s been successful for them since the Christmas break.
“Be us,” Salter said. “We’re trying to just stay sharp and be prepared for situations. We’ve obviously watched film, but we just want to continue to do what we’ve been doing. That’s kind of been our motto since after Christmas, just be us. I think at times, I kind of changed that, I was trying to adjust to who we played instead of being who we are. Because who we are is really good. So we really focused from after Christmas until now to do what we do well and then make adjustments to the game, not going in there trying to be different. I think that’s given our guys a lot of confidence.”
That mantra has been plenty effective for Greenfield, as the Knights come into the championship game with plenty of momentum, winners of 15 in a row.
The team knows it will have its work cut out for it against United Faith Christian, but also feels prepared for this moment. The Knights played a tough schedule and participated in a number of showcase events, including the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh, with the goal of preparing for moments in which they might find themselves in the postseason.
“That’s why we do it,” Salter said. “...We lost some close games at times during the (John Wall) that we felt like we should have won. But it taught us things. We went back and learned from it. That’s what I told them. We have not made those mistakes later on in the year when we’ve been in close games. So absolutely, that’s why I put us in those showcases, one, it’s great for the kids, but two, the John Wall is an electric atmosphere and you’re playing fantastic teams, you’re playing championship level teams, and that gets you ready for the end of the year.”
Make no mistake, however, this will be a tough matchup for the Knights, as one should always expect in a championship game.
United Faith Christian enters the championship game at 18-7 following Tuesday’s 89-67 win over Grace Christian. The Falcons are led by Xavier McKelvy, who averages 19.1 points per game. Marcus Willis (15.3 PPG) and Alex Bates (12.3) also average double figures for United Faith Christian.
“They’ve got experience,” Salter said. “They’ve got some really experienced seniors. (Xavier McKelvy) is one of the best guards in the state. He’s one of the most athletic guards in the state. He’s really good. They’re big. They’re athletic. They play well together. I’ve watched several games of them. When they get down, they don’t panic.”
The Knights already know a bit of what they’re getting into in this one, as the team hosted the Falcons in December. Salter called that contest a “fantastic high school game,” as the Knights jumped out to a 13-0 lead, trailed by seven with four minutes left and eventually rallied to win 73-72 in overtime.
Those headed to Mount Olive Saturday should expect a similar battle.
“That’s two good teams with good leadership and good chemistry,” Salter said. “It’s going to be a war.”
Greenfield and United Faith Christian will tip off at 5 p.m. Saturday at Goerge and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena in Mount Olive.
Posted on February 25, 2022
Christian.
By Andrew Schnittker
aschnittker@wilsontimes.com | 252-265-7807 | Twitter: @aschnitt53
Throughout the 2021-22 season, the Greenfield School boys basketball team has kept its sights set on one goal: the NCISAA 1-A State Championship.
The Knights had other goals they accomplished too, of course, such as winning the 1-A/2-A Coastal Plain Independents Conference. But the biggest objective was always getting back to the state title game. That’s a goal that was realized earlier this week, as, with a 98-64 win over Crossroads Christian in the semis Tuesday, the Knights punched their ticket to the championship game, in which they’ll face United Faith Christian at Mount Olive Saturday.
“We’re really excited,” said Greenfield head coach Rob Salter. “This has been a process. We lost out last year. I remember Aaron Murphy was like ‘We’re not having this feeling again next year.’ They’ve been focused. This has been their goal. From what we did this summer to now, they’ve been a focused group. We’re glad to have a chance to play for a state championship.”
Greenfield is back in the state championship game for the first time since 2019, which was also its last championship win. It’s the Knights’ 10th all-time appearance in the title game, and they’ll seek their sixth straight title.
The team fell short of this goal last season, falling 68-53 to Victory Christian Center in the semis. That’s been a driving force for the Knights throughout the year.
“The boys turned it into motivation,” Salter said. “And we got to do a lot of stuff in the spring and summer that we couldn’t do during the COVID year, getting together, working out, playing, going to team camp, doing a lot of stuff. So, I mean, that made this group really tight. But they definitely used that as motivation going into the year.”
It’s already been a wildly successful year for the Knights. Greenfield comes into the championship game at 27-5, and the team went 7-0 in Coastal Plains Independents play, capturing both the regular season and conference tournament championships.
The Knights have rode a balanced approach to the title game, as the team is capable of scoring in the paint, getting out in transition and knocking down 3s. Senior Aaron Murphy has led the way all year, but the team has a number of key contributors, including Hampton Evans, Matt Kriby, Kyshon Atkinson and more.
“I think we’re a team,” Salter said. “We play really good basketball, we’re really unselfish. I think we can be really good defensively at times. One thing I like is it’s really coachable. These guys want to be coached. They’re sponges, and they take it when you get on them and they want to get better. So I think that’s one thing, we’re pretty complete. The different weapons throughout the time, people stepping up when we needed them to, has helped us this far.”
As the No. 1 seed Knights prepare to take on the No. 2 seed Falcons, they’re sticking with a mantra that’s been successful for them since the Christmas break.
“Be us,” Salter said. “We’re trying to just stay sharp and be prepared for situations. We’ve obviously watched film, but we just want to continue to do what we’ve been doing. That’s kind of been our motto since after Christmas, just be us. I think at times, I kind of changed that, I was trying to adjust to who we played instead of being who we are. Because who we are is really good. So we really focused from after Christmas until now to do what we do well and then make adjustments to the game, not going in there trying to be different. I think that’s given our guys a lot of confidence.”
That mantra has been plenty effective for Greenfield, as the Knights come into the championship game with plenty of momentum, winners of 15 in a row.
The team knows it will have its work cut out for it against United Faith Christian, but also feels prepared for this moment. The Knights played a tough schedule and participated in a number of showcase events, including the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh, with the goal of preparing for moments in which they might find themselves in the postseason.
“That’s why we do it,” Salter said. “...We lost some close games at times during the (John Wall) that we felt like we should have won. But it taught us things. We went back and learned from it. That’s what I told them. We have not made those mistakes later on in the year when we’ve been in close games. So absolutely, that’s why I put us in those showcases, one, it’s great for the kids, but two, the John Wall is an electric atmosphere and you’re playing fantastic teams, you’re playing championship level teams, and that gets you ready for the end of the year.”
Make no mistake, however, this will be a tough matchup for the Knights, as one should always expect in a championship game.
United Faith Christian enters the championship game at 18-7 following Tuesday’s 89-67 win over Grace Christian. The Falcons are led by Xavier McKelvy, who averages 19.1 points per game. Marcus Willis (15.3 PPG) and Alex Bates (12.3) also average double figures for United Faith Christian.
“They’ve got experience,” Salter said. “They’ve got some really experienced seniors. (Xavier McKelvy) is one of the best guards in the state. He’s one of the most athletic guards in the state. He’s really good. They’re big. They’re athletic. They play well together. I’ve watched several games of them. When they get down, they don’t panic.”
The Knights already know a bit of what they’re getting into in this one, as the team hosted the Falcons in December. Salter called that contest a “fantastic high school game,” as the Knights jumped out to a 13-0 lead, trailed by seven with four minutes left and eventually rallied to win 73-72 in overtime.
Those headed to Mount Olive Saturday should expect a similar battle.
“That’s two good teams with good leadership and good chemistry,” Salter said. “It’s going to be a war.”
Greenfield and United Faith Christian will tip off at 5 p.m. Saturday at Goerge and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena in Mount Olive.
